Federal Order Prompts Removal of History and Climate Displays from National Parks

Directive from Trump administration aims to refocus public sites on American accomplishments over historical and environmental critiques

Published on Feb. 5, 2026

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The U.S. National Park Service (NPS) has recently removed exhibits on history and climate change from national parks across the country, following a directive from the federal government. The alterations came as a result of President Donald Trump's executive order titled 'Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,' which aimed to refocus public sites on American accomplishments over historical and environmental critiques.

Why it matters

The removal of these exhibits has sparked concerns that it represents an attempt to 'whitewash' the past and provide a narrow perspective of American history. Critics argue that this could have widespread impacts on public understanding of history and science, as it denies basic facts and removes important context about the nation's past and environmental challenges.

The details

NPS employees were given a deadline of September 2025 to report non-compliant materials to be altered or deleted. Parks that reported no information were told they may receive visits from Department of the Interior officials. One of the earliest changes was to Maine's Acadia National Park, where signs about Native American history were withdrawn. Since then, at least 17 additional parks have been affected, including the removal of an exhibit discussing George Washington's ownership of enslaved people, the slave trade, and the slave economy from the Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia.

  • In March 2025, President Trump issued the 'Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History' executive order.
  • In September 2025, the NPS was given a deadline to report non-compliant materials to be altered or deleted.
  • In September 2025, signs about Native American history were withdrawn from Acadia National Park in Maine.
  • Since September 2025, at least 17 additional national parks have been affected by the order.

The players

Donald Trump

The former President of the United States who issued the executive order that prompted the removal of history and climate displays from national parks.

Dennis Arguelles

The Southern California director of the National Parks Conservation Association, who criticized the removals as an attempt to 'whitewash' the past and provide a narrow perspective of American history.

Supriti Bhopale

A Carlmont High School senior and president of the History Club, who argued that trying to hide certain aspects of history is not reflective of the true past.

Miranda Wacker

A Carlmont High School junior who runs the school's Green Team, and expressed concerns that the removal of climate change information could impact public understanding of science.

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What they’re saying

“We believe that removing history is not compatible with the Organic Act, which was the act that created the National Park System. That was about preserving our cultural and natural history.”

— Dennis Arguelles, Southern California director of the National Parks Conservation Association (The Washington Post)

“If we look at history through rose-colored glasses or try to only focus on the parts that make us feel comfortable, then I think we're doing ourselves a great disservice.”

— Supriti Bhopale, Carlmont High School senior and president of the History Club (scotscoop.com)

“When the administration is denying things that are basic facts, you have a very different precedent set for what the nation is going to believe.”

— Miranda Wacker, Carlmont High School junior and Green Team president (scotscoop.com)

What’s next

The City of Philadelphia has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration following the removal of signage in Independence Mall, and legal organizations are seeking ways to preserve the cultural and natural history of national parks.

The takeaway

The removal of history and climate change exhibits from national parks represents an attempt to present a narrow, whitewashed version of American history and deny scientific facts. This could have far-reaching consequences for public understanding of the nation's past and environmental challenges, underscoring the importance of preserving the full context and diversity of perspectives in how history and science are portrayed in public spaces.